ARES POV I placed my hand on the doorknob and pushed the door open, the hinges creaking slightly in protest. The heavy oak door gave way to the dim, solemn interior of my study. The scent of old books, leather, and a faint trace of smoke lingered in the air—comforting and cold all at once. Jason trailed behind me silently like a shadow, but the moment I stepped in, my eyes locked on the two figures already occupying my space.They were exactly where Jason said they’d be.One of them, tall—taller than I had anticipated,with light brown hair, was pacing the room like a caged animal. His shoulders were taut, his jaw clenched, and every now and then, he ran a hand through his hair with barely restrained frustration. The other sat with deceptive calm on the couch, his back facing me, legs crossed like he owned the place. I scoffed inwardly. Bold. Reckless. Or just plain desperate.The pacing one noticed my presence first. He stopped mid-step and turned to face me. “It’s an honor to finall
ARES’ POVI sat on the edge of the bed, eyes fixed on the most intoxicating sight I’d ever laid eyes on. There she was—Little Leister—my little one, sprawled across my massive bed, her delicate frame curled up around a pillow like she’d always belonged here.The shirt I’d put on her earlier barely covered her. It was an black sleeve shirt that hung off her frame, stopping just mid-thigh. But now, her sleep had stirred the fabric, shifting it higher, revealing sinful stretches of creamy skin that screamed to be touched—worshipped. Her legs, slender yet toned, were tucked slightly under her, and that thick curtain of jet-black hair fell over her face like a veil.She hadn’t stirred once since we got back.The pack doctor had told me it was normal—her first shift had drained her, physically and emotionally. Add that to the shock of everything unraveling around her, and it made sense why her body had forced her into unconsciousness. But he reassured me she would be fine.Still, I couldn’
ARES' POVI tore the head clean off another beast, black blood splattering my fur like ink spilled on parchment. The stench was unbearable—rotting flesh, dark magic, and something else. Something fouler. Whoever made these abominations had to be a sick, twisted bastard. Their creation wasn’t just flawed—it was insulting. These things were no match for an ordinary Alpha, let alone me.But the question that haunted me more than their creation was how they got in.Siege is protected. Sealed. Cloaked.This shouldn’t be happening.We only responded to the scream of a student. By the time we arrived, three beasts were already feasting on his lifeless body, tearing through flesh like it was nothing more than fruit. I fought them off single-handedly, bones crunching beneath my claws and jaws. But for every one I killed, three more appeared.Like a curse unfolding in real time.This… This was the "bad" little Leister warned me about. Not that I hadn’t believed him—there was something too haunt
NOAH'S POVLucas pulled into the university parking lot and brought the car to a stop. I hadn’t felt like riding my bike today—not with the weight in my chest. And Millo didn’t work for Gavin anymore. According to Gavin, I’d passed whatever ridiculous test he’d set for me.As soon as the car came to a halt, my hand reached for the doorknob, ready to bolt."Try not to do anything reckless today," Lucas’s deep voice rumbled from beside me.I rolled my eyes dramatically, recognizing that was his own twisted way of saying he cared. I leaned over and pecked his cheek."Roger that, captain," I said with a mock salute.He chuckled under his breath, just a short burst, but it was rare enough to make me smile. I stepped out and watched as his car rolled away.And then it hit me. Hard.The air turned colder, biting at my skin. Not the kind of cold that made you shiver... this one made the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand, prickling like alarm bells. Something was wrong. Very wrong.I wra
NOAH’S POVI shoved another spoonful of mint-chocolate ice cream into my mouth like it was a life-saving drug. Everything Penny had said earlier was still ringing in my ears like an annoying ringtone you can’t find the phone to silence. “He’s the king,” she said. “He is betrothed to someone else,” she said. What was I thinking? That Ares would settle for a guy. Why does love always come with a warning label and a sprinkle of betrayal?Normal heartbroken people drown their sorrows in tequila. Me? I eat ice cream. Alone. At a random ice cream shop. In public. Looking like a sad little mystery boy with zero social life.Why? Because if Gavin saw me like this, he’d never stop asking questions. And Gavin questions are like interrogation lights... blinding, unrelenting, and way too accurate.I let the icy sweetness melt in my mouth, the mint numbing my tongue, but not the ache in my chest. I held the spoon between my lips and sighed, pouting dramatically like I was auditioning for a sad in
ARES’ POVA few minutes after little Leister walked out of my office, I mind-linked Jason.“Come over to the penthouse. Now.”I didn’t wait for his response—I cut the link off immediately. My mood was already on edge, and the pounding irritation in my chest wasn’t helping. What little Leister said was still lingering in my mind. Is his seer ability finally manifesting?I had only come to the university today for one reason: to see him. And now that I had, I was already missing him again. Pathetic, isn’t it? The way he’s starting to consume my every thought. But that’s fine. I’ve got a plan to fix that. A plan to make everything fall in line.With no further business here, I grabbed my car keys from the desk, slipping them into my pocket. My footsteps were slow but measured as I strode out of the office, shutting the door behind me with a quiet click.As I walked down the hallway, I felt the weight of eyes trailing me. Students peeking nervously from behind corners, whispering about me